2 Samuel

2 Samuel 10 ©

1 David's ambassadors, sent to comfort Hanun for his father's death, are disgracefully treated. 6 The Ammonites strengthened by the Syrians are overcome by Joab and Abishai. 15 Hadarezer sendeth a new army of Syrians under Shobach, which is defeated by David, and their general slain; whereupon the kings who were subject to Syria become servants to Israel.

1

AND it came to pass after this, that the aking of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his *stead.

2

Then said David, I will bshew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

3

And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, 1Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? chath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

4

Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and dshaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

5

When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at eJericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

6

¶And when the children of Ammon saw that they fstank before David, the children of Ammon gsent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of 2Ish-tob twelve thousand men.

7

And hwhen David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

8

And ithe children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the jSyrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

9

When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:

10

And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.

11

And he said, kIf the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.

12

Be lof good courage, and let us mplay the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD ndo that which seemeth him good.

13

And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

14

And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before oAbishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

15

¶And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they pgathered themselves together.

16

And qHadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond 3the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.

17

And when it was told David, rhe gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.

18

And sthe Syrians fled before Israel; and David 4slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand 5horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

19

And when all the kings that were tservants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and userved them. So the Syrians vfeared to help the children of Ammon any more.

u ch. 8.6.